Texas French Bread, located at 2900 Rio Grande, offers quality coffee, fresh-baked bread and pastries and a large lunch menu. Photo by Julie Bissinger

I finally found a great French bistro in Austin. Texas French Bread doesn’t really fit the mold of a coffee shop, but that doesn’t stop the bakery from serving up a great cup of Joe.

Located at 2900 Rio Grande, just outside the West Campus neighborhood, Texas French Bread is a convenient lunch alternative for University of Texas students. Texas French Bread caters to a mixed crowd, including twenty-somethings, families with young children and older generations. The country decor and open space make the bistro a more sophisticated lunch option.

The spacious interior and country decor at Texas French Bread attract a wide range of patrons. Photo by Julie Bissinger

Because Texas French Bread is a bakery, there is a limited selection of espresso drinks and drip coffees. This didn’t take away from the quality or flavor, though. I ordered a regular latte. The latte had an extremely frothy surface coupled with a smooth taste. After adding one packet of sugar, the latte tasted perfect. Texas French Bread uses locally roasted beans from Anderson’s Coffee & Teas, according to the bakery’s website. Fresh-squeezed juices and hot teas are also available.

To go along with my latte, I ordered an egg white omelet off of the breakfast menu. Shredded roasted chicken, tomatoes and cheese filled the omelet. A sliced avocado was placed on top. Made with fresh, locally grown ingredients, the omelet tasted the part.

I ordered an egg white omelet made with chicken, cheese, tomatoes and avocado. Photo by Julie Bissinger

The bistro also offers a wide variety of sandwiches, salads and soups on the lunch menu. Dinner is served Monday through Saturday from 6:00p.m. to 10:00p.m. For dinner, patrons can choose from pasta dishes, seafood, lamb chops and salads.

Having the sweet tooth that I do, I could not leave without trying a pastry. I ordered a piece of the sour cream coffee cake. I could tell the bakers made the cake from scratch. The moist texture, cinnamon flavor and subtle crunch from the nuts made the cake taste incredible.

Texas French Bread bakes a variety of made-from-scratch pastries, cakes and breads throughout the day (Pictured: sour cream coffee cake). Photo by Julie Bissinger

The service was friendly and relatively quick. I went around lunchtime, so the place was kind of crowded. I recommend going to Texas French Bread if you have more than an hour to spare for brunch, lunch or dinner.

Everyone has their own favorite coffee lounges, and I’m no different. In choosing which shops to review for this blog, it’s been tempting to go to my regular spots, and I’ve hit up most of them since the blog’s inception. But my trips to unfamiliar coffee houses have been more rewarding because some have turned out to be real gems that I’m excited to revisit. Here are my top three newly discovered coffee shops, and tips on when to visit them and when it might be better to stick with your own regular spot.

The eclectic and comfortable environment at Bennu Coffee on East MLK offers a creative drink menu in an ideal study spot. Photo by Lara Berendt.

1. Bennu CoffeeWhy: It’s cozy, the music is always awesome, the baristas are charming, and they have three different varieties of vegetarian breakfast tacos from Torchy’s.When to go: If you want to get work done. There are more power outlets for your laptop in this place than there are hipsters—and there are plenty of hipsters.When to skip it: If you want a really superb espresso drink. I love you Bennu, but you gotta step it up in this area.

Quality coffee and a serene patio setting earn points for Once Over. Photo by Lara Berendt.

2. Once Over Coffee BarWhy: Clean, modern decor; a serene back patio overlooking Bouldin Creek; excellent, high-quality espresso drinks.When to go: If you’re in the South First area and craving a delicious cappuccino or espresso shot.When to skip it: If you’re looking for a place that has a full food menu. Food selection is pretty limited here.

Summermoon sells their organic, fair-trade coffee beans by the bag near the counter. Photo by Lara Berendt.

3. SummermoonWhy: Cute, comfortable decor and layout; lovely baristas; unique and scrumptious coffee drinks.When to go: If you want to enjoy a decadent coffee concoction on a sunny little patio in South Austin.When to skip it: If you’re looking to hang out for hours in a vast, anonymous, hipster-saturated scene. This place is fine for idle laptop work, but it’s small and somewhat intimate.

]]>https://coffeecultureatx.wordpress.com/2011/05/06/one-bloggers-favorite-austin-coffee-shop-discoveries/feed/0laraberendtBennu Coffee interiorCappuccino and sesame seed bagel from Once Over Coffee BarSummermoon counter viewCaffe Medici on the drag is a students paradisehttps://coffeecultureatx.wordpress.com/2011/05/05/caffe-medici-on-the-drag-is-a-students-paradise/
https://coffeecultureatx.wordpress.com/2011/05/05/caffe-medici-on-the-drag-is-a-students-paradise/#commentsFri, 06 May 2011 02:03:09 +0000http://coffeecultureatx.wordpress.com/?p=536Continue reading →]]>

Roast beef sandwich paired with an espresso

by Zach Miller

Caffe Medici is an excellent place to get coffee and the location on Guadalupe Street in no exception.

The Baristas at Medici are super friendly and pro coffee culture. I listened in last week as Barista Thomas King talked with a customer about coffee drinks for about 5 minutes. He discussed how the drinks they prepare differ from Starbucks drink. Often times he will show new coffee drinkers the difference and guide them towards ordering what they really want.
Interestingly he told me that he doesn’t dislike the concept of Starbucks. They may have modified and sweetened traditional coffee drinks, but Starbucks opens up the world of coffee to people.

Although the coffee and the food is great, the seating isn’t so great. They are just plain metal chairs that aren’t so inviting. The setting is cool and dark, the music is mellow, but those chairs just don’t make you want to stick around for a prolonged time.

Even if you may not sit and stay a while, the coffee is worth the visit. I wander down to get an Americano and roast beef sandwich as often as possible.

Russell’s Bistro is one of the places in town you will want to take someone to impress them. It fits all the requirements: great ambience, fairly secluded, decently priced food(lunch anyway), and of course good coffee.

Russell’s is on Kerbey Lane next to the original Kerbey Lane cafe and Anderson’s coffee Roasters off of 38th Street.

It was just cozy. Maybe I liked it because I went on the one rainy cold day we will have in May, and watching the rain out of the large window set the coffee drinking mood.

Either way it is worth checking out for lunch, which they serve until 5 p.m.
I had a macchiato and it wasn’t traditional, more cream than anything, but they put it in a big cup so I was satisfied. They brew Anderson’s coffee, which is next door.

The atmosphere is just spectacular at Russell’s. The deep and dark wood complementing the color scheme of the walls was pleasant. It is a place you wouldn’t mind wasting an afternoon in.

Lola Savannah is a neighborhood favorite for West Lake residents. Photo by Lara Berendt.

For full disclosure, I must preface this post with the admission that my husband is managing partner at Lola Savannah Coffee Lounge in West Lake Hills. He’s also the reason I’ve become somewhat picky about espresso quality, and I’m not just plugging his business when I say, Lola serves some of the absolute best espresso drinks in the greater-Austin area.

The decor at Lola is welcoming and chic. Photo by Lara Berendt.

As an East Austinite, I don’t frequently make the drive out to West Lake, but the handful of times I’ve stopped in have been just lovely. The shop is furnished with plush leather armchairs, and the ceiling is artfully draped with burlap coffee bags. Lola is a coffee house by day that hosts spillover traffic at night from the adjoining Grove Wine Bar & Kitchen, a restaurant and wine lounge under the same ownership.

Baristas at Lola are known for creating gorgeous lattes. Photo by Lara Berendt.

The highly skilled baristas here are known for making top-notch espresso drinks and creating impressive latte art. I’ve had superb cappuccinos from Lola, but Sunday I opted for a refreshing iced green tea, which had a touch of peach flavoring. The shop also offers breakfast tacos and a variety of decadent pastries, of which the coffee cake is particularly delicious.

The shop has a variety of flavor shots that can be added to the drink of your choice, with several available sugar-free. Photo by Lara Berendt.

You might recognize the Lola Savannah coffee brand from Central Market or HEB. The shop in West Lake serves solely this brand, which is based out of Houston, and also sells the beans in bulk for home brewing. The coffee has won over a lot of neighborhood regulars, many of whom set up shop in the relaxing lounge and work on their laptops for hours a day.

The next time you’re in West Austin, or anytime you’re craving an excellent coffee drink, give Lola Savannah a try. You can even stay for dinner and wine at The Grove next door.

Flipnotics is built on a steep hill in the heart of South Austin. Photo by Julie Bissinger

During my quest to find coffee shops around Austin, I came across Flipnotics on a Google search. The website is space-alien themed, so I figured this coffee shop must be a cool place to hang out or to catch up on work. I could not have been more correct.

Flipnotics, located at 1601 Barton Springs Rd., lives up to its eccentric qualities displayed on its website. The coffee shop is perched up on a steep hill and is surrounded by trees. The large outdoor seating deck features odd decorations like an old television set converted into a fish tank. Flipnotics also holds live music concerts on its patio throughout the week.

The outdoor patio provides lots of seating and space for live music concerts. Photo by Julie Bissinger

Indoor seating is limited, but to truly enjoy Flipnotics, I think you need to sit outside. Unless it’s unbearably hot.

Flipnotics serves local brews made from fair-traded organic coffee. Lots of drinks with espresso shots are available. The coffee shop also offers milkshakes, which I haven’t seen at other coffeehouses.

Flipnotics features a variety of coffee and non-coffee drinks, such as milkshakes, for patrons to choose from. Photo by Julie Bissinger

I ordered a fresh fruit smoothie made with apple juice, strawberries and bananas. Flipnotics also has extensive tea, beer and wine offerings.

I ordered a smoothie made with apple juice, strawberries and bananas. It had a good consistency and tasted fresh. Photo by Julie Bissinger

During my visit to the coffee shop, I didn’t see many food items. There were a few sandwiches and pastries in the food case but not many. I think this was due to the time of day that I went over to Flipnotics. I went at 1:30p.m. The coffeehouse usually has food options from local bakeries like Russell’s Bakery, The Green Cart and Torchy’s Tacos.

Overall, I think Flipnotics is the perfect spot to hang out, especially when live music is playing. You also don’t feel like you’re in Austin when sitting outside on the patio. The large trees, festive lights and seating arrangements contribute to an almost tropical atmosphere.

Jeanie's Java leases space from the Great Outdoors Nursery on South Congress. Photo by Julie Bissinger

Jeanie’s Java truly is another of Austin’s hidden gems. I had no idea the coffee shop existed until I stumbled upon on it while visiting the Great Outdoors Nursery with my roommate. Jeanie’s Java blends in with the nursery’s trees and plants, so it took me a minute to realize the building was a coffeehouse.

Jeanie’s Java takes advantage of its location, though. The coffee shop, located at 2730 S. Congress Ave., leases its space from the nursery and is a separate business. The outdoor patio overlooks the nursery’s gardens, allowing patrons to view flowers, plants, trees and yard decorations. The air also feels cleaner due to all of the vegetation.

The outdoor patio at Jeanie's Java overlooks the Great Outdoors Nursery. Photo by Julie Bissinger

If you are susceptible to allergies, I’d recommend sitting inside. The indoor seating area is much smaller but still offers a unique dining and coffee drinking experience. There is a chalkboard, which patrons are encouraged to draw on, that spans the length of the coffee shop’s entrance. Using the large pieces of sidewalk chalk provided, I drew on the board as I waited for my food. This made me feel like a kid again.

Jeanie's Java encourages patrons to draw and write on the chalkboard wall near the coffee shop's entrance. Photo by Julie Bissinger

Jeanie’s Java uses organic beans grown locally in Austin for their coffee. I could taste the quality of the beans in the iced coffee that I ordered. The coffee menu includes drip coffees from Colombia and Peru and a variety of espresso drinks. Jeanie’s Java boasts a large smoothie menu, featuring flavors like Peanut Butter & Jelly and Soy Berry Blast. Chai tea and and organic flavored teas are also available.

The sandwich menu caught my eye, so I ordered a tomato, basil and mozzarella hot-pressed sandwich. Although it took awhile to arrive, the sandwich tasted really good. Jeanie’s Java serves salads in addition to both hot and cold sandwiches.

The tomato, basil and mozzarella hot-pressed sandwich came with tortilla chips and hummus. Cold sandwiches and salads are also available. Photo by Julie Bissinger

Jeanie’s Java is the perfect place to enjoy the weather while eating good food and drinking quality coffee. Next time you find yourself out near South Congress, definitely stop by Jeanie’s Java.

This family-owned business sells an extensive selection of quality teas and teaware. Photo by Lara Berendt.

While obviously not a coffee house, the Tea Embassy is one of my favorite caffeine suppliers in Austin. Whether you’re a tea novice or a tea connoisseur, this shop undoubtedly has something that will delight you.

My husband got me interested in tea several years ago and since then, we’ve been exploring the many varieties of loose leaf teas and brewers on the market. As with wines, if you’re not sure which kinds of tea you might like, the best thing to do is taste as many as you can to familiarize yourself with their attributes.

The shop offers an impressive variety of teas. Photo by Lara Berendt.

The Tea Embassy offers a wonderful venue for this kind of exploration. The staff members are exceedingly knowledgeable and can guide you in selecting the perfect tea, whether you’re seeking a strong caffeine kick in the morning or a soothing nighttime herbal blend. You can buy as little as an ounce or two of a tea to take home and try out. I usually don’t buy more than these small amounts because I always look forward to finishing them and returning to try something new.

Beautiful tea sets or simple brewers make great gifts. Photo by Lara Berendt.

The shop also carries every piece of tea paraphernalia you could ask for, from simple, chic single-cup infusers to ornate, hand-painted tea sets, and digital thermometers (water temperature is a an important factor in getting the optimal amount of flavor and nutrients from teas) to high-end electric teapots. You can find a beautiful gift here for tea newbies or tea lovers, at nearly any price range.

The shop's Victorian decor is homey and ecclectic. Photo by Lara Berendt.

The Embassy is housed in a historic landmark, and the decor is steeped in Victorian kitsch. The house lacks a full kitchen, though, so the staff is unable to serve food, or even tea in actual ceramic cups (no kitchen means no dishwasher). Most of the shop’s business is in retail, but you can order a tasting cup—any variety of tea from their menu, which they steep with care and serve in a disposable cup. You can enjoy it in one of their cozy sitting rooms or take it to-go.

Some popular teas are pre-packaged, ready to grab and go. Photo by Lara Berendt.

Some of my favorite recent Tea Embassy purchases include their Monkey-Picked Oolong tea, Georgian Village black tea, and Drum Mountain green tea from China. I also love the Curve tall mug by FORLIFE; my husband and I use them constantly because they allow us each to make a large cup of our preferred tea quickly and easily, instead of brewing a full pot of one kind of tea to share.

The business is family-owned and operated, and owners Jonathan and Amy, and the rest of the folks behind the counter, are always friendly and welcoming. If you’re interested in learning about the many benefits and joys of drinking tea, this shop is a lovely place to start.

Texas Coffee Traders is a great starting point to fine tune your tongue to the differences in beans across the globe. Owner RC cups different coffees every day to test and compare qualities of his beans. He does this in the middle of the shop and encourages whoever comes in to join the tasting and see what they think.

It will be very hard to get in and out of their shop without having coffee, because of the cuppings and the staffs willingness to brew you a latte as you walk in the door.

They roast beans, they brew coffee, they sell and repair brewing machines and devises. They are a wonderful hub for the Austin coffee community.

I tried something new this week and shot video while at Anderson Coffee Roasters on Kerbey Lane. Serving coffee at only a dollar and nearly all their freshly roasted coffee beans at under $10, this place offers something that new and old coffee drinkers can appreciate.